New Zealand will host cricket's under-19 World Cup in January, 2002 New Zealand Cricket said in Wellington on Monday.

Sixteen teams - three to be determined in qualifying tournaments - will compete, with pool matches to be played at Christchurch and Dunedin on the South Island and at Auckland on the North Island.

The final will be played at Christchurch. India is the defending champion.

The teams:

Pool I (Auckland): India, South Africa, Bangladesh and Americas qualifier.

Pool II (Christchurch): Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Pool III (Christchurch): Pakistan, England and Asia qualifier, East Asia-Pacific qualifier.

Pool IV (Dunedin): Australia, West Indies, Scotland and Kenya.

© PTI